Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tessunlight Improved’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Tessunlight Improved’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit; yellow-colored flowers with short pedicels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESSUNLIGHT IMPROVED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, growntypically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Tessunlight Improved’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new potted gardenAlstroemeria plants that flower continuously and have attractive leafand flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofAlstroemeria hybrida ‘Tessunlight’, not patented. The new Alstroemeriaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single floweringplant from within a population of plants of ‘Tessunlight’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands inJune, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions ina controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlandssince September, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this newAlstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Tessunlight Improved’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tessunlight Improved’ as anew and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Yellow-colored flowers with short pedicels.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the mutationparent, ‘Tessunlight’. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plantsof ‘Tessunlight’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are larger and more vigorous        than plants of ‘Tessunlight’.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger flowers than        plants of ‘Tessunlight’.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of theAlstroemeria hybrida ‘Staprisara’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,080. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeriadiffer primarily from plants of ‘Staprisara’ in flower color as plantsof ‘Staprisara’ have yellow and red purple bi-colored flowers. Inaddition, plants of the new Alstroemeria are more vigorous than plantsof ‘Staprisara’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tessunlight Improved’grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during thewinter in 4.6-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse inKudelstaart, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 14° C. to 16° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 12° C. to 14° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photograph anddescription were taken. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tessunlight    Improved’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria    hybrida ‘Tessunlight’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven            weeks at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight            weeks at 16° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy; up to 2 cm in thickness;            white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded habit;            freely branching habit with about 19 primary lateral            branches developing per plant, dense and bushy appearance;            sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 23.8 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 41 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.        -   Length.—About 12.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 8 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 144B with a dull outer layer, close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single            whorl; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to broadly lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 145A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 145A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N138B; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to N137A; venation, close to 144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to            7 mm. Color: Close to 143A to 143B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged            in compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth            segments separate; freely flowering habit with about ten            flowers per inflorescence and about 190 flowers developing            per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight            weeks after planting; flowering continuous from early April            through the summer in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Shape: Narrowly obovate. Color: Proximal half, close to 145C            to 145D; distal, close to 147B to 147C.        -   Umbel height.—About 12 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 14.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 7.9 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.6 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner            perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.4 cm. Width,            lateral segments: About 2.6 cm. Length, median segment:            About 5.7 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.7 cm. Size,            outer perianth: Length, all segments: About 6.5 cm. Width,            all segments: About 4.8 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral            and median segments: Narrowly obovate. Shape, outer            perianth, lateral and median segments: Obcordate. Apex,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Abruptly acute.            Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Broadly            retuse with a small abruptly acute point. Base, inner and            outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Attenuate or            cuneate. Margin, inner and outer perianths, lateral and            median segments: Entire. Texture, inner and outer perianths,            lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner            perianth: When opening, all segments, upper surface: Close            to 3B to 3C; towards the apex, close to 155C; apex, close to            144B; spots and streaks, close to 187A. When opening, all            segments, lower surface: Close to 3D; towards the apex,            close to 155C; apex, close to 144B; spots and streaks, close            to 177B to 177C. When opening, median segment, lower            surface: Close to 4D; towards the apex, close to 155C; apex,            close to 144B; spots and streaks, close to 177B to 177C.            Fully opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 7A            to 7B; towards the apex, close to 155C; apex, close to 144B;            spots and streaks, close to 187A; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, median segment, upper surface:            Close to 7C; towards the apex, close to 155C; apex, close to            144B; spots and streaks, close to 187A; color does not            change with development. Fully opened, lateral segments,            lower surface: Close to 12B; towards the apex, close to            155C; apex, close to 144B; central spot, close to 63C to            63D; spots and streaks, close to 177B to 177C; color does            not change with development. Fully opened, median segments,            lower surface: Close to 10B; towards the apex, close to            155C; apex, close to 144B; spots and streaks, close to 187A;            color does not change with development. Color, outer            perianth: When opening, all segments, upper surface: Close            to 155B to 155C; towards the base, close to 155A; apex,            close to 138B; few spots and streaks, close to 187A. When            opening, all segments, lower surface: Close to 155C; towards            the base, close to 155A; apex, between 138B and 144C to            144D. Fully opened, all segments, upper surface: Close to            NN155B; towards the base, close to 10B; towards the apex,            close to 195C to 195D; apex, close to 138B; color does not            change with development. Fully opened, all segments, lower            surface: Close to NN155C to NN155D; towards the apex and            central band, close to 144C slightly tinged with close to            63C to 63D; apex, close to 138B; color does not change with            development.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Erect to about 30° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 4.2 cm. Filament color: Close to            NN155B; towards the base, close to 157C. Anther shape:            Oblong to elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther            color: Close to 152A to 152B. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 153D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 5 cm. Style length: About 4.3 cm.            Style color: Close to NN155C to NN155D. Stigma shape:            Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma color: Close            to NN155C to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 146D tinged with            close to 200D.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemeria plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind and    rain. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been observed to tolerate    high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 8.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named‘Tessunlight Improved’ as illustrated and described.